This paper reviews the mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), emphasizing the recent experimental advancements in understanding their elastic behavior. The authors, from the Department of Physics at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, highlight the use of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine the Young’s moduli of single-wall and multi-walled nanotubes. These techniques have confirmed theoretical predictions that CNTs exhibit high strength, flexibility, and resilience. The paper discusses the relationship between the structural order of CNTs and their mechanical properties, noting that a deeper understanding is needed for developing CNT-based composites. The Young’s modulus of CNTs is found to be influenced by the degree of disorder in the atomic structure, with higher moduli observed in tubes with less disorder. The review also covers theoretical predictions and experimental results, including the impact of tube diameter and helicity on elastic properties. Despite the challenges in experimental measurements due to the nanometre scale of CNTs, the findings suggest that CNTs may have higher Young’s moduli than graphite, indicating their potential for high-performance composites.This paper reviews the mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), emphasizing the recent experimental advancements in understanding their elastic behavior. The authors, from the Department of Physics at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, highlight the use of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine the Young’s moduli of single-wall and multi-walled nanotubes. These techniques have confirmed theoretical predictions that CNTs exhibit high strength, flexibility, and resilience. The paper discusses the relationship between the structural order of CNTs and their mechanical properties, noting that a deeper understanding is needed for developing CNT-based composites. The Young’s modulus of CNTs is found to be influenced by the degree of disorder in the atomic structure, with higher moduli observed in tubes with less disorder. The review also covers theoretical predictions and experimental results, including the impact of tube diameter and helicity on elastic properties. Despite the challenges in experimental measurements due to the nanometre scale of CNTs, the findings suggest that CNTs may have higher Young’s moduli than graphite, indicating their potential for high-performance composites.